If you are navigating a career change for the first time, you may feel a great deal of uncertainty about what the future holds. You may feel as though it’s too late to make a change. At the same time, you may feel as if you don’t do anything, you’re doomed to stay in a career where you’re just unhappy. However, if you’re ready for some help, take a look at these tips.
Accept that There are No Shortcuts
The first thing you need to do is accept that there aren’t any shortcuts. They don’t exist. Every time you’ve tried to take your career in a new direction, you find something is stopping you. This can be understandably frustrating, so prepare yourself for a marathon, not a sprint. Even though shortcuts are handy, there aren’t usually any good ones when you are trying to create meaningful change.
What Skills Do You Already Have
Let’s say you work as a data analyst and hope to become a journalist one day. Take time to think about ways you have used your writing skills in your current job. Did you write articles for the company newsletter? Or maybe you wrote articles for an association you belong to? If you haven’t, you could consider doing so and include that in your resume.
Another example is looking for jobs for retired teachers. Did you lead professional development programs or facilitate workshops for your company? You probably have a lot of experience you are overlooking. Keep that in mind and highlight the ones that relate to the career you are transitioning to.
Update Your Skills For a Career Change
Once you know what skills you already have, you may find there are still a few gaps. You might not have the skills you need to get the job you want right away. Depending on the industry you want to work in, you may need to go back to school to obtain a degree. But keep in mind that a degree may not be necessary. You can find various certificate programs or online courses that can fill the gaps you have in your resume. Online courses are now more widely accepted by employers than ever. Not only can they fill in the gaps, but they can also help you refresh your skills so you’ll be ready when they call you for an interview.
For those considering a move into more specialised or leadership-focused roles, formal education can still play an important part in a career transition. Fields such as construction, engineering, and project management often value structured qualifications that demonstrate both technical knowledge and organisational skills. In these cases, pursuing an online construction management degree can be a practical way to build industry-specific expertise while continuing to work or manage other commitments. This type of flexible learning allows career changers to gain relevant credentials, understand industry standards, and position themselves for roles that require planning, coordination, and leadership without putting their lives on hold.
Think about a Lateral Move
Your new opportunity may be right in front of you, working at the company you already work for. There are many reasons companies prefer to hire internally when a position is vacant. One reason is that a current employee already knows and understands the company culture. They also save time and money by avoiding any additional background or reference checks.
If you want to be hired internally for a new job, make sure you keep an eye on your company’s job board. When you see jobs like the one you are interested in, note the qualifications and responsibilities. Research any new positions that could pop up within the area you would like to work in. Use this information to identify any of the gaps mentioned above and to update your resume. Also, let managers know you are interested in positions like this so they can keep you in mind. Being a current employee, leadership may select you for the position and offer training and mentorship as you learn the remaining skills you need.
Put the Effort into Applications
There’s no point in putting a lot of effort into developing new skills and improving your career prospects to fall at the last hurdle. It’s always worth making sure you present yourself as well as possible every time you apply for a job. A lot of this focuses on your CV or resume and ensuring it effectively sells your skills and experience.
You’ll need to consider your cover letter for each application, too. This is what gets people to check out your CV or resume in the first place. Thankfully, creating new and personalized cover letters doesn’t have to be too complicated, and you can always use Scriberly writing tools to help with this.
Test the Waters Before a Career Change
One brilliant way to fast-track your learning is to work on side projects. Let’s say you are trying to break into front-end website development; when you have learned the skills you need, you can find a side project that helps you to show off everything you might have learned. You can also ask to be assigned to a detail for a few months to see if this is genuinely the move you want to make. A detail involves serving in the role for a temporary period by being immersed in it. You will be allowed to shadow someone to learn the role without making a final commitment. Once you’ve worked through this and gained experience, you’ll be ready for a career change. If you find you don’t like the duties, when the detail ends, you can go back to the responsibilities you were doing and won’t be out of a job.
Build out your Portfolio
Did you know that over 72% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find new candidates? If you want to stand out, revamp your profile. Edit your title to convey your interest in the industry you want to be hired in. You may want to be as specific as possible so potential employers will know you are looking. If you can do this, then you will stand out amongst the crowd, and this can work in your favor more than you realize. Of course, it’s wise to add any skills you may have, too. This will make it easier for hiring managers to find you on the platform.
Navigating a career change can be overwhelming, but do not give up because it seems complicated. Be patient and keep these tips in mind, as they could make all the difference when you seek a new position. If you’re ready to make a career change and would like assistance, consider working with a career coach like me. Here’s to YOUR success!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership, and Mentor Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc., which helps you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. Carolyn is certified to administer the Energy Leadership Index and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). You can learn more about assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
